Towards a decarbonised society
Decarbonising society is the key to achieving the lower levels of carbon emissions that are required to mitigate the effects of climate change — according to Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, speaking at the recent conference of FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) in London. ‘Sustainable solutions to global challenges’ focused on the global effort needed to adapt to and mitigate climate change and the role of engineers in taking the lead in the fight against climate change.
Faced with, in the UK, an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, Keith Clarke stressed that the next 10 years are critical. ‘You do not get 80% by trying harder. Small improvements are not the answer. You can only get there by introducing fundamental carbon accounting.’
Asserting that 10 years is ‘almost instant in our business’, Keith Clarke urged a change in mind set among engineers and action in defining how to decarbonise all projects with immediate effect.
‘We don’t like getting things wrong,’ he said. ‘To do things fast enough, we have to set up standards, find where they are wrong and get them more right. If we do that over the next decade, we stand a chance.’
He ended with a upbeat message: ‘The good new is that we have a conference that takes climate change as its starting point.’
